LeBron James: Celtics Match-up Not Just Another Game

Other players peeked in from the shower room and the training room, hearing the bellows as the teams traded baskets, to check the score. In the end, the Rockets handed the Celtics their sixth loss in the last eight games, strengthening the Cavs’ newfound hold on the best record in the NBA, which is now 28-6.

The Cavs don’t win anything for it, but it’s the first time they’ve been on such a pedestal this late in the season since March of 1989. Plus there’s the psychological advantage for Friday that the Cavs will be the hunted for a change.

"We’d never look past an NBA team," said James of the effort against the Bobcats, in which he had 21 points.

"I can’t say [Friday] is a just another game; I’d be lying. You want to win as many games and try to get homecourt throughout the playoffs."